Page 111 of Dawn of Hope

“Lucky guess. What do you want?”

“I want to talk to Weston. I want Fin back.”

He glares at me, his body still as the stone behind him. “Fin is safe,” he says finally.

“Sorry if I don’t take your word for it. He’s just a little boy. He is safe with us.”

“What makes you think that, princess?”

A lightning bolt strikes me at the last word. “What did you just call me?”

“You heard me,” he says, pushing off the wall and taking a measured step toward me.

It has to be a scheme, something to throw me. A stupid pet name he thinks will shake me and make me forget about my fury toward the Castaways. There is no way he has any idea that I am actually a princess.

“I’m not your princess,” I spit back.

He shoots me a pointed look and takes another step forward, slowly closing the gap between us. “You never thanked me for saving your life.”

If he thinks I am going to be deterred by his not so subtle subject change, he is wrong. “Your thank you was my silence and not telling Dane about you.” His eyes harden, but he stays on course, continuing to step closer toward me. I don’t budge. I won’t let him intimidate me, no matter how much stronger than me he looks.

“You didn’t tell him?”

I seal my lips shut. The conversation should not be going there. He is distracting me, changing the subject. I need to get back on course.

“If you will not take me to Weston, you can at least arrange for me to meet him somewhere.”

He smirks. “What are you going to offer him? He’s going to need to know before he decides to meet with you.” Another step closer.

“I have nothing valuable.”

“I disagree.” Another.

I scowl at him. He is close enough now that I can reach out and touch him, but I am not backing down. I refuse to back away.

“How about a trade?” he says, taking that last step so we are almost touching.

“A trade? Fine. Name it. You know him better than me. What would Weston trade Fin for?” I pin him with my stare, and his teal eyes don’t look away.

“You, princess. I’d trade for you.” I feel the rumble of his voice deep in my abdomen, my heart beating wildly in response.

Me. I could trade for Fin. Iwouldtrade for Fin. I’m much more capable of handling the Castaways than he is, and I wouldn’t rest until I escaped.

I open my mouth, ready to agree.

Then it clicks, what he said.

I’dtrade for you.

Weston.

This man is Weston.

Not just one of the Castaways that saved me. The leader, the man responsible for kidnapping Voyagers. The man that wants the cure for his own gain.

This evil, dangerous man who had…saved me? Who had looked relieved when I was alive?

No.